Drop once, catch later

It is a sight that kicks off most games of cricket: the fielding team in a tight circle, arms linked around shoulders to listen to final instructions. But there seemed something odd with the Kings XI Punjab huddle. It had a pair of legs sticking out. Virender Sehwag was in middle of getting his hamstrings stretched and George Bailey called the rest of his men to converge around. It took a reassuring nod and Bailey waiting with his hands over two imaginary shoulders before the others joined him. So with his team-mates looming over him, Sehwag enjoyed the team chat whilst sprawled on the turf.

Barbados Tridents arrived in India short of 959 runs - the contribution from Shoaib Malik, Dwayne Smith and Kieron Pollard. But they got a cameo appearance from a Dilshan - Dilshan Munaweera. The Sri Lanka batsman, was roped in as an overseas professional for the CLT20 and he gave his namesake a run for his money with an audacious scoop off Anureet Singh. Munaweera rushed across to a short ball outside off, adjusted his grip and shoveled it over his left shoulder. That took him to 25 in the third over. He reached his fifty in the sixth; 50 out of his team's 61.

It was a skier. It was off the bat of Munaweera, who had been caning Kings XI. Manan Vohra tracked it from midwicket. He had it covered but forgot the physics involved in a dive. The ball was safe in his hands, but his momentum forced him to the turf, the elbow made contact first and he lost control of the catch. Two balls later, Munaweera offered him another opportunity and this time Vohra leapt up, shot his hands above his head, and clung on. A raucous send-off to the batsman indicated he hadn't forgotten the earlier fluff.

With a chase of 175 on their cards, Kings XI had to take those pesky risks. Vohra was a touch too eager with that method in the second over and a leading edge soared up. Elton Chigumbura bolted from mid-on. Jonathan Carter did the same from midwicket. The ball was on its way down and still there was no call from either fielder. Both men slid, both men had their hands primed for the catch. Chigumbura reached first but the distraction of another man hurtling towards him put him off. Carter endured a withering look from his team-mate, but he got the chance to make amends in the fourth over when Vohra top-edged a pull.

George Bailey had nailed a slog sweep. He didn't care that there was a man patrolling the boundary. Or at least he was hoping to put him out of the equation with the power he generated. It worked, at least partly, as James Franklin skirted around the boundary, leaped and stuck out his right hand but the ball did not stick. Instead it bounced off his face and onto the turf. Franklin had one ball to contemplate his mistake before Bailey tested him again. This time it was a simple simple take at deep midwicket. Tonight was the night to make all your fielding blunders; a second opportunity was right around the corner.